The NHRF History

The NHRF was founded in 1988 and sprung out of Norwegian civil society, academia and workers’ unions.

Established as a flexible donor, the NHRF has been able to take risks and support nascent initiatives which are targeted and smart, without intermediary links or time-consuming procedures.

During more than 25 years of existence, the NHRF has given support to projects focusing on a wide range of topics. These topics range from recognising and securing Indigenous peoples rights as citizens; monitoring and documenting abuse in conflict areas; protecting those working in the frontline for human rights; and demanding access to basic human needs for the poor, such as water, food, and housing. As a part of this, the NHRF has built rich and vast networks of relevant actors within which the NHRF actively participates, both locally and internationally.

Therefore, the NHRF has a 30-year long track record of providing support in politically sensitive contexts, acting as a daring contributor to the struggle for human rights.

Owner Organisations Amnesty International NorwayThe Atlas AllianceNorwegian Confederation of Trade UnionsNorwegian Centre for Human RightsChurch of Norway Council on Ecumenical and International Relations